D.A.R.E. PROGRAM SURVEY TARGETS TOBACCO USAGE

The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program is back in survey
action once again, only this time its out to track it's effectiveness in
tobacco reduction among junior high students in the community.

After conducting a successful community-wide survey almost two years ago,
program coordinators managed to narrow down their topic more specifically
and conducted a preliminary survey in the Grade 7 classes at Okotoks Junior
High School.

"The reason we are looking at tobacco reduction, specifically, is because
we have heard the D.A.R.E. program is having a significant effect on Grade
6 kids," said Lori Czerwinski, D.A.R.E. executive director.

"Parents and teachers said they have noticed there are fewer Grade 7 kids
smoking in our community and we thought that's great news and we should
find that out ourselves."

A recent study shows D.A.R.E. students are five times less likely to not
smoke. It was this information that also gave the program committee the
extra boost to conduct the survey.

In total, 71 students participated in the survey in the 2003-2004 school
year. Of that total, 90 per cent of the students received the D.A.R.E
program in Grade 6. Only 22 per cent of the students have been approached
to try smoking with over 90 per cent of students replying said 'no.'

"Students are very determined to say no," said Czerwinski.

"We did fairly good work with the survey, and looking at it now, there is
not really a lot that we want to change about the program."

The D.A.R.E program is a 17-week life-skills program provided to Grade 6
students throughout the Foothills School Division.

Every year it teaches over 600 students about resisting peer pressure, the
dangers of substance abuse and the risks of smoking. Now in its fifth year,
the program has expanded to offer Grade 8 students follow-up programs as well.

"The Grade 8 program is completely different than the Grade 6 program,"
said Czerwinski.

"After two years they need this reinforcement because some of their skills
seem to drop off."

The program also recently got a much needed boost in funding for their
full-time RCMP D.A.R.E. officer position from Okotoks Town Council.

Since 1998, the cost of the RCMP officer has risen 40 per cent due to
salary increases and equipment.

In order to keep up with the costs, a 20 per cent increase in funding is
needed from stakeholders for the year.

So far Okotoks is the only municipality to approve the funding. The
D.A.R.E. program committee will be approaching the rest of the
municipalities in the Foothills during the next couple of weeks.